cup-o-robots

So it begins…

Sony’s little silver PS3 (or white, or black, hopefully a Burberry plaid by launch :P) made its first appearance during the opening day of E3. You gotta admit, Sony has quite an impressive machine in its hands - or so they say.. Remember all the stuff they said about the PS2 before its launch? Hehe. But with Blu-Ray, Bluetooth, Cell technology and 1080p resolution, that’s a lot of heat the PS3 is packin’. I love how one of their slides on the slideshow was having a two HD display hook-up, for a 32:9 panaromic view!? Hehe - I wish a setup like that was common, but hey, you never know in the future.

Microsoft also had their press conference for the XBox 360 and they put up a pretty well-rounded presentation (no pun intended, though I did like how the stage was circular and the presenters were able to walk and look around in full 360 degrees.. um.. yeah, hehe). I am impressed by the interface and connectivity that MS is proposing for the XBox. It is at this point where you can clearly see where each company is heading towards, and a lot of it has to do with the background of each company. MS is definitely trying to hit a wide range of people, linking them up and creating a massive online and interactive community. Sony is going for the ultimate home theater experience with the best sound, picture, and entertainment setup you can put together. These factors are key and can lead to what type of gamers would go for which system. XBox 360 specs may not match up to Sony, but they are showing a strong third-party support, from MS alum like Team Ninja and Rare, to newcomers like Mistwalker and the surprising addition of Square Enix. Sure for now it’s only FF XI.. but it’s FF XI! XBox Live is what MS will captalize on in the early stages of the console wars, and I think it can work out very well for them (having the free XBox Live Silver account is a good start).

Okay let’s just talk a little about the industrial design of the systems. If the design is absolutely final - and it looks like it pretty much is with the XBox 360 - I would have to lean towards MS, it’s more home-media-friendly like fitting into a TV shelf unit, or stacking on top of it like you would with a player deck. I’ve said before that I’m totally a Sony bitch (PSP!), but the PS3 just does not seem that appealing. Maybe it’s not so much the console itself (which is sleek and simple) but rather the controller. However, Sony might be onto something.. Since it is wireless (Bluetooth, nonetheless), I guess people may be tempted throw it around. But with this controller, because of its boomerang-shape, it’ll come back to you! Seriously, the thing looks so wonky, it might even look a little cheap, and it doesn’t even really fit the aesthetic of the console (which also seems a little big, and when laid down looks like a snazzy George Foreman grill). I’m a little harsh, but the controller is obtuse and looks huge. I’m curious how ergonomic it really is - it could very well be the most comfortable controller out there; remember, Sony’s standard PS controller has been very successful since its debut over 10 years ago. One thing I admire about both consoles are their proposed compatibility with other devices. I like how Sony included slots of other types of flash media besides their own Memory Stick. And it’s neat how the XBox can connect to things like an iPod or a PSP (though it’s unclear in what ways and uses). It’s just nice to see the two systems expand their horizons

So with those that leaves us with Nintendo. I have a lot riding on Nintendo (maybe its the recent visit to the Nintendo World Store and being reminded of their powerful reputation) and how their press conference will turn out tomorrow morning. I’m sure they’re going to talk a lot more about DS and Gamecube (especially with the new Zelda, YAY!), which sets itself completely apart from Sony and XBox (both of which barely had anything to say about their current-gen consoles during their press conferences.. poor PS2 and XBox, erf). Nintendo has to shed some light on Revolution. Maybe not so much an actual, physical console (though it could be in early form like the DS in last year’s E3), but at least more news about what kind of games, companies and innovative ideas they have for it.

Tune in tomorrow. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.. maybe. Keke